Can't wait...lets keep a solid log in here of daily updates. We can reference back to this during the season. I know twitter is going to blow up with information. Peter King is going to be out in Dallas for the start so should be good content flowing in all week.

OXNARD, Calif. – Some thoughts from the field in Oxnard after the first walkthrough of camp:

Jason Garrett likes to say that injuries are part of the game in the NFL and I couldn’t agree with him more. The first thing I learned a long time ago is that no one feels sorry for you. This league will test your resolve and your ability to adjust. For this offensive line, the ability to adjust has come very early in camp. When the first group broke the huddle today, it was Tyron Smith and Doug Free at the tackles with Travis Frederick at center, but Kevin Kowalski was in Nate Livings’ spot on the left side and David Arkin was on the right side for Mackenzy Bernadeau. With that group, the next trick for the coaches was going to be how they were going to play the backups. Rookie tackle Edawn Coughman took some reps on the left side at guard, which was the first time that I had seen him play inside this spring, and free agent Ray Dominguez out of Arkansas was on the right side. Garrett has a plan to use rookie Travis Frederick at some point at guard and maybe even Phil Costa, who doesn’t have the bulk for the position but could be forced into action if needed. In standing behind the drills at practice today and watching the line work, it appeared that Livings should be back with the group before Ronald Leary and Bernadeau do. For Livings, it about the cut on his foot being healed enough for him to practice.

It was interesting to see Lance Dunbar getting the first shot with the ones behind DeMarco Murray. I can see Dunbar in the role as the third down back in this offense with the thought that Phillip Tanner would be the second back, but that wasn’t the case. There were several plays where Dunbar received praise from Bill Callahan with his ability to read the blocks and hit the hole at the right spot. We got our first look at Joseph Randle but it was behind both Dunbar and Tanner. Seeing Randle live, he has some jump in his game. There is a burst there along with the ability to catch the ball on the move. Kendial Lawrence got some work as well but he wasn’t as noticeable as either Dunbar or Randle. I am looking forward in these next several weeks to see the learning curve of Randle and how he handles these practices. It’s clear that the talent is there but how quickly he picks up his assignments will tell you how fast he plays. It’s clear he is off to a good start when he received chances.

With Jay Ratliff out of the lineup with the strained hamstring, Jason Hatcher and Sean Lissemore took the majority of the reps inside at defensive tackle. On the reps where I was studying their work, it appeared that Hatcher was playing the “Under Tackle” or the 3 and Lissemore played as the “Nose” or 1 technique. With the twos, Ben Bass and Nick Hayden were getting the reps, with Ikponmwosa Igbinosun and Jeris Pendleton working with the threes. Nick Hayden appears to be a player that Rod Marinelli really likes as part of his rotation. There were several moments in the individual period where he was working with him one-on-one on his technique. Pendleton is a player that I do not know much about, but I do like what I see in his size. At 324 pounds, we will see if he can play quick enough to make himself a factor for a roster spot in this scheme.

At safety, Will Allen continues to work with Barry Church, which was something that we saw from the last minicamp before the break. Matt Johnson and J.J. Wilcox worked with the twos which I thought was a nice combination. It was Wilcox that showed up plenty in the OTAs and minicamps, but this morning Johnson was around the ball and in position when several passes went to the outside to the tight ends and backs. He was in great shape to make the close on the ball. Another area of Johnson’s game that I really liked was his communication with Orlando Scandrick. There were several plays where Callahan went to what the defense calls a “Nasty” split by the receiver tight to the formation, which Johnson and Scandrick were able to sort out with no problem. Running with the threes were Eric Frampton and Danny McCray but look for Jakar Hamilton to also get some work there.

Observed called the practice "up-tempo and punctual". So glad we don't have to hear about "Camp Marshmallow" when Wade was here. Fingers crossed for Crawford he was looking to break out this year.

One major positive I read on was Matt Johnson. Supposedly around the ball a ton and had great communication. Dunbar also was 2nd on the depth chart and received a TON of praise about hitting the hole hard and reading blocks properly. If he had clean up his pass blocking we may have ourselves a gamer as a 3rd down back.

Quote:

Romo and the rest of the Cowboys' quarterbacks are sporting wristbands with numbered plays on them during training camp. The plan is to use them throughout the season as a way to streamline the play-calling communication process.

I can't believe this wasn't in play to begin with. Supposedly we only used it because Callahan will be in the box and they needed a way to streamline communication from to Wade Wilson and then to Romo.

Matt Johnson and J.J. Wilcox worked with the twos which I thought was a nice combination. It was Wilcox that showed up plenty in the OTAs and minicamps, but this morning Johnson was around the ball and in position when several passes went to the outside to the tight ends and backs. He was in great shape to make the close on the ball. Another area of Johnson's game that I really liked was his communication with Orlando Scandrick. There were several plays where Callahan went to what the defense calls a "Nasty" split by the receiver tight to the formation, which Johnson and Scandrick were able to sort out with no problem.

One hilarious note. When you read this you see the word "interception" more than once. I had to google the word because it's been complete foreign to our defense for ages.

I counted 1 on Romo (Carter tipping one to Lee) and 4 on Orton (Tanner dropped pass resulting in a Barry Church pick-6, Holloman with an INT, Matt Johnson had an INT, and Ernie Sims ended the walkthrough with a pick on Orton as well).

That is probably the most excited thing I've read so far.

@Leroy: He had back surgery which didn't allow him to do any conditioning and lifting. Most likely he'll drop back down.

Observed called the practice "up-tempo and punctual". So glad we don't have to hear about "Camp Marshmallow" when Wade was here. Fingers crossed for Crawford he was looking to break out this year.

One major positive I read on was Matt Johnson. Supposedly around the ball a ton and had great communication. Dunbar also was 2nd on the depth chart and received a TON of praise about hitting the hole hard and reading blocks properly. If he had clean up his pass blocking we may have ourselves a gamer as a 3rd down back.

I can't believe this wasn't in play to begin with. Supposedly we only used it because Callahan will be in the box and they needed a way to streamline communication from to Wade Wilson and then to Romo.

I counted 1 on Romo (Carter tipping one to Lee) and 4 on Orton (Tanner dropped pass resulting in a Barry Church pick-6, Holloman with an INT, Matt Johnson had an INT, and Ernie Sims ended the walkthrough with a pick on Orton as well).

That is probably the most excited thing I've read so far.

@Leroy: He had back surgery which didn't allow him to do any conditioning and lifting. Most likely he'll drop back down.

HAHA, ya I was just joking about his weight. What is his normal weight anyway?

You will see TO's being stressed more and more by Kiffin than the past regime's.

The pads are going on today, kinda excited about that. I know the OL has been getting poor reviews but I don't put too much stock into practices in helmets... especially in the trenches. Also should be a good opportunity to see how Escobar and Rosario handle the dirty work of TE.

The pads are going on today, kinda excited about that. I know the OL has been getting poor reviews but I don't put too much stock into practices in helmets... especially in the trenches. Also should be a good opportunity to see how Escobar and Rosario handle the dirty work of TE.

This. Plus the defense ALWAYS schools the offense in the first week or so of camp. Just the nature of the beast. Our TEs ability to block might be one of the most important things to take away from camp given the comments about the "12" personnel.

This. Plus the defense ALWAYS schools the offense in the first week or so of camp. Just the nature of the beast. Our TEs ability to block might be one of the most important things to take away from camp given the comments about the "12" personnel.

Hannah ans Escobar arent blockers. Witten is decent but our TEs are pass catchers. Dont really see any improvment in our run game.

Hannah ans Escobar arent blockers. Witten is decent but our TEs are pass catchers. Dont really see any improvment in our run game.

Was more in terms of game-planning. Asking a TE to zone-block isn't too difficult assignment. Sure if you are grading them as man/drive blockers even Witten is atrocious at that. Asking them to seal an edge or misdirect a linebacker/safety is amenable even with their size. Basically if Hanna/Escobar are better at blocking than say Harris/Williams/Beasley out of the slot it'll force teams to defend a bad situation.

Flex Hanna out against a base set and he's going to be 1v1 with a linebacker or safety. I'll take that every single time. Or how about a nickel corner on Escobar/Witten easy pickings on a box out.

Essentially whether or not Witten/Hanna/Escobar can be passable blockers especially when given favorable matchups (i.e. Nickel sets) would be a huge winfall for the team.

Was more in terms of game-planning. Asking a TE to zone-block isn't too difficult assignment. Sure if you are grading them as man/drive blockers even Witten is atrocious at that. Asking them to seal an edge or misdirect a linebacker/safety is amenable even with their size. Basically if Hanna/Escobar are better at blocking than say Harris/Williams/Beasley out of the slot it'll force teams to defend a bad situation.

Flex Hanna out against a base set and he's going to be 1v1 with a linebacker or safety. I'll take that every single time. Or how about a nickel corner on Escobar/Witten easy pickings on a box out.

Essentially whether or not Witten/Hanna/Escobar can be passable blockers especially when given favorable matchups (i.e. Nickel sets) would be a huge winfall for the team.

It's the whole point of featuring more 12 packages, our TEs have to be capable blockers. Ideally, they're good enough in the run game to force the defense to stay base... and that's where the matchup advantages take place in the passing game. Then there's the obvious advantage in the run game when the defense goes Nickel.

It's just a tough set for defenses to match-up against, see NE and SF.

I'm essentially saying Witten/Hanna/Escobar are strong enough receivers to force teams to play nickel or get beaten through the air. In the instances where the defense calls the bluff and stays base we'd send in a running play and be dependent on Romo to either audible to a passing play or rely on our TEs to successful block the edges.

I 100% agree with you guys that Witten/Hanna/Escobar are NOT effective blockers against a base defense. Could they become a unit that is effective in an offseason? Perhaps, but I more-so envision the first scenario (i.e. beat defenses in base through the air and force teams to play the mismatch into our hands).